Grain separator



Dec. 25, 1934. M. A. ERICKSC DN ET AL GRAIN SEPARATOR Filed Jan. 18,1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 I NVENTORs MARGU5A.ERIGK5ON NNES GROsETH $19, I34

ATTORNEYS Dec. 25, 1934. M. A. ERICKSON ET AL GRAIN SEPARATOR Filed Jan.18, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS ARGU5A.ERICK5ON JOHANNES GROSETH 8)WI m M ATTORNE ya Dec. 25, 1934. M. A. ERICKSON ET AL 1,9 5

I GRAIN SEPARATOR Filed Jan. 18, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS .F' 5135 sA-ERICKSON :5 JDHANNES: nos T A TTORNEY5 1934. M A. ERICKSON ET ALGRAIN SEPARATOR.

Filed Jan. 18, 1932 6 sheets sheet 5 IN VENTORs K mo RR .6 A

s s w-o R AA W JoV m ATTORNEYS Dec. 25, 1934. M ERICKSQN ET AL 1,985,772

GRAIN SEPARATOR Filed Jan. 18, 1932- 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR5 MARCU5A. time meow I JOHANNE-E: 61-10551 ATTORNEYs Patented Dec. 25, 1934PATENT OFFICE GRAIN SEPARATOR,

Marcus "A;

Erickson and Johannes Groseth, ltfinneapolis Minn.

. Application immie, 1932, serial No. 587,186

am ss; ((1209-96) This invention relates to'new and useful improvementsin grain separators; generally, and

more particularly to the type ofseparator employing a cylindricalseparating member having its inner surface provided with suitableindentations and through which member the material to be separated and cleanedis fed An object of the invention is to provide a grain separatorcomprising'a cylinder having its interior surface provided with suitableindentations, and provided at-one end with means for delivering theretothe materialto be separated, and means being'provide'd within thecylinder adapted to receive certain particles of the material inelective quantities, carried upward-1y by said indentations,and-discharge them fromthe cylinderinto suitable receiving means.

A further object is to provide a grain separator comprising an indentedcylinder into one end of which the material to be separated-is fed, andtrough-like 'members being mountedwithin the cylinder adapted to receivedifferent materials carried upwardly by the indentations in the wallthereof, said trough-like members being mounted for independentadjustment, and the adjustability of said members providingmeans wherebythe degree of separationpliifdhe material from another may-becontrolled. 9 Y

A further object is tojpibvidea grain separator comprising a cylinderhaving its walls provided with suitable indentations adaptedto' receivethe diiierent materials to be separated,

and a plurality of trough-like members being mounted within the cylinderand having their receiving edges adapted to be disposed at dif-" ferentelevations, whereby oneof said members may be arranged to'receivecertain of said mato be separated into said cylinder, and troughlikemembers being providedgwithin Said'upper' cylinder adapted to" receivecertainmaterials. carried upwardly by the indentations in the walls ofsaid cylinder, said troughlike members being oppositely disposed wherebymaterial delivered into one of said memberswill e discharged from theupper cylinder through the receiving end thereof and delivered into thereceiving end of gas may be clean grain; being discharged from theopposite end ofthe upper cylinder into a suitable receiving means, andthe lower cylinder having one end portion provided with medium sizedindentations, while the opposite endthereof is provided with relativelysmaller indentations and trough-like members also being provided withinthe lower cylinder andinclined in the same general direction; the memberat the receiving end of the cylinder being adapted to receive the material carried upwardly by the relatively larger indentations at thatend of the cylinder and. delivering it into the second section of thesame cylinder for the purpose of regrading and resep arating; and therelatively larger material which isnot carried upwardly by theindentations in the first section of the cylinder being discharged fromthe grader as cleaned material through suitable openings provided in thewall of the cylinder. The object of thus releasing from the firstsection of the cylinder, the material already thoroughly cleanedandgraded, is first; to maintrain that particular grade separate fromother grades discharged from the machine, and sec end; to establisha'c'oncentrated mixture which isdeliv'ered'into the second section ofthe cylinder for the final clean up of the small seeds from the smalland broken grains. This final clean up or separation is effected by therelatively smaller indentations provided at that end of the cylinder; vthe material carried upwardly by these smaller indentations beingdelivered into the trough-like members provided therein from whence itis discharged from the end of the cylinder into" a suitable receivingmeans, the tailings being discharged separatelyfrom the same end of thecylinder into another receiving Other objects of the invention reside inthe meansprovided in connection with one of the trough-like membersforpreventing elective portions of the material carried upwardly by theindentations in the walls of one of the cylinders from being delivered;into saidv member whereby said material is returned to' the cylinder forfurther separation; in the means provided for inde pendently adjustingthe trough-like members within the cylinder to efiect the properseparation of the materialsbeing separated; in the means provided fortilting the cylinders with respect to the ground level so as to controlthe fiow of material therethrough; in the unique manner in which thematerial tobe separated is fed through the machine whereby the'variousmaterials contained in the mixture separated from one another anddelivered into their respective receiving means; in the means providedfor controlling the feeding of the material into the machine; in themeans provided for causing some of the material delivered into themachine to be returned for a second separation; in the means providedfor removing the dust and lighter foreign particles from the material asit is fed into the cylinder to be separated; andv in the generalconstruction of the machine, as a whole, whereby a separator is providedwhich is capable of thoroughly'separating from one another, all of thevarious materials contained in the mass, and at the same time dividingthe main product such as wheat, into three different grades, thoroughlycleaned and graded as to length, and deliveringthem into their respective receiving means, and in the operating mechanism of themachinewhereby the latter may be operated with a minimum of power.v

Other objects of the invention will appear from the followingdescription and accompanyingv drawings and will be pointed out intheannexed' various objects of the invention, but it is to be.

understood that the invention is not confined to the exact featuresshown as various changes may be made within the scope of theclaims'which follow.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a cross sectional view on the line 1-1 of Figure 2, showinga machine comprising two cylinders arranged onev over the other, andalso showing the means provided thereinfor conducting the separatedmaterials to their respective receiving means;

Figure 2 is afront elevation of the machine showing the means foradjusting the. trough-like members within the cylinders; Y

Figure 3 is a 'rear elevation of the machine showing the driving meansfor the cylinders;

4- 1, of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a sectional plan view'on the liner 5+5 of Figure 4 showingthe means provided for" direction of rotation of the cylinder, that thevertically adjusting one end of the machine;

s Figure 6 is a detail sectional'view on the'line- 6-6 of Figure 1showing the receiving endof the upper cylinder;

-Figure '7 is a detail sectional. view on the line 7-7 of Figure 2,showing the trough-likemember provided at the front end of the uppercylin-- der, some of the parts being broken away;

Figure 8 is a sectional plan view on the line' 88 of Figure 2;

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic viewshowing full and dotted lines, differentpositions of the trough shown in Figure '1, and also showing the meansprovided in connection with said trough for returning certainof. thecoarser material for recleaning; I Figure 10 is a view similar toFiguree, showing the parts in different positions;

Figure 11 is an enlarged detail view showing how certain of the materialis delivered into the of gravity and composed of uprights 2-2 and -3-3-secured to I to the uprights 3-3.

gether at one end of the frame by suitable cross rails or members 44.The members 3-3 at the opposite end of the frame are shown securedtogether by suitable cross members 5 and 6. Suitable angle iron rails 7secure together the uprights 2 and 3 at each side of the machine, asbest shown in Figures 1 and 8.

In the preferred form of the invention, a pair of cylinders 8 and 9 arerotatably mounted in the frame. The upper cylinder 8 has the innersurface of its receiving end provided with suitable indentations, andthe rear half of this same cylinder is preferably provided with slightlysmaller indentations than those provided in the front half of thecylinder. These indentations are adapted to carry portions of thematerial to be separated, such as all small seeds and otherforeign'material which is smaller than the grain being cleaned, and alsoelective portions of the main mixture, upwardly and deliver them into areceiving means which will subsequently be described. The rear half ofthe lower cylinder 9 is.provided with indentations of a smaller sizethan those provided in the rearhalf of the upper cylinder 8, andthefront half of the lower cylinder 9 is provided with indentations of asmaller size than those provided at the opposite end of this samecylinder. Hereinafter, the end of this machineat the right in Figure 1,will be referred to as the-front end, While the opposite end thereofwillbe referred to as the rear end.

The front end of the upper cylinder 8 has an annular member 11 securedtherein which has a raised portion 12 adapted to ride or travel upon apair of suitable rollers or wheels 13 and 14, shown-suitably mountedupon a plate 15 secured The opposite end of the cylinder 8 has anannular member or head 16, fitted thereinto, as shown in Figure 1. Thisannular member 16 is provided with a circular plate 17 spaced therefromby suitable spacers 18. The

circularplate 17 is provided at its inner centralportion with an annularflange 19, providing an opening. 21 through which the material to beseparated is fed into the end of the cylinder. The opening 21 is soarranged with respect to the unseparated material being fed to themachine is delivered directly onto an empty or bare surfaced thecylinder wall whereby it is immediately subjected to theaaction of theindentation 10, as will be clearly understood by reference to Figure151. By thus delivering the unseparated grain onto an unoccupied surfaceof the cylinder, the

initialseparation is greatly facilitated.

A hub 22'is secured to the annular flange 19 by suitable arms 23, asshown in Figure 6, and this hub is securedto one end of a shoulderedstub shaft 24, having a reduced end portion rotatably mounted inabearing 26 provided in a small housing 27, shown secured to the crossmember of the machine frame by suitable bolts 28, as shown in Figure 3.A suitable collar 29 is secured to the exteriorend portion of thereduced end portion of the stubshaftZ, and cooperates with the shoulderprovided at the inner end of said reduced end portion topreventlongitudinal movement of the stub shaft 24 in the bearing 26.Aniagitator 50 is secured to the stub shaft 24 to prevent the materialfrom becoming congested in the bottom of the housing 27.

A shaft 31 extends through the cylinder 8 and has one end supported inthe hub 22 of the cir- "cular plate 17 and has its opposite endrotatably supported in a sleeve 32, mounted in an.aper- 1,955,??2" tureprovided in the'plate 15 at the front end of the machine "A member 33 issecured to the rear end portion of the shaft 31 adjacent to the bearing22, and has an annular flange fitting within the head 16 of the cylinder8, as best shown in Figure 1. The central portion of the member 33 isoffset and is adapted to fit over the inner portion of the flange 19 ofthe circular plate 17, and cooperates with the opening defined by saidannular flange to provide ameans for directing the material to beseparated into the receiving end of the cylinder 8. The member 33 isprovided with an inwardly extending flange 35 preferably V-shaped asshown in Figure 6, adapted to provide a seat for atrough-likemember 36,one end of which is secured to the flange 35 and the intermediateportion of which is supported by the shaft 31, the bottom of saidtroughlike member being apertured to receive the shaft asshown inFigure 1. 1

An arm 37 is secured to the outer end of the shaft 31' at the front endof the machine, as best shown in Figures 2 and 8, and is shown providedwith a slot 38 adapted to receive one end of a link 39 which ispivotally supported upon the plate 15, as shown in Figure 2. A suitablethumb screw 41 is received in threaded engagement with the arm 37 andprovides means for clampingly engaging thelink 39 to secure it to thearm 3'7. By means of the above described parts, the shaft 31 andtherefore the trough-like member 36 may be rotatively adjusted withinthe cylinder 8 and locked in the desired adjusted position. A dischargespout 42 is provided at the front end of the machine and projectsthrough a suitable opening 43 provided in the plate 15, as shown inFigure 2. The spout 42 is supported upon a plate 44 provided with a hub45 in which the sleeve 32 is secured by means of a suitable set crew 16.The sleeve 32 provides a support for The plateportion plate portion 44of the spout 42 has an inwardly extending flange 47 preferably V-shapedin form and providing a support for one end of a trough-1- like member48, the bottom of which isinclined as shown in Figure l and extendsupwardly to a point substantially mid-way fthe lengthjof the cylinder 8.The bottom of the member 48 is apertured to receive the'shaft 31. v I

An adjusting arm 49 is secured to the outer end of the sleeve 32, asshown in Figure 1, and extends laterally therefrom, as shown in Figure 2and has a slot 51 therein adapted to receive a link 52 similar to thelink '39," but somewhat long A suitable screw 53 is received in threadedengagement with the arm 49 and provides means for securingthe arm to thelink 52, the latter being pivotally'mounted upon the plate 15, as shownin Figure 2. Thus, itwill be noted that by means of the arm 4L9, thetrough-like member 48 is adaptedfor adjustment with the cylinder 8independently of the trough-like member 36 provided at the rear of themachine. The troughlike member 48 at the front of the machine isprovided at one side with a small trough 54 inclined in the oppositedirection from that of the member 48. This trough 54 is adapted toreceive a portion of the grain carried upwardly by the indentationsinthecylinder 8 and convey such material rearwardly towards thecenterof thecylinder-B, whereby said material will be subjected to a secondseparation.

' A similar trough 55 is provided at the opposite side of the member 48and has its upper end positioned beneath an opening 56 provided in thewall of the member 48, as best shown in Figure '7. A plurality ofmembers57 are pivotally mounted upon the shaft 31 and each has an endportion adaptedto engage the wall of the member 48 at the receiving sidethereof, as shown in Figure 9. The relatively shorter end portions 58 ofthe members 57 are adapted to direct the material delivered ontotheupper portions of the members 57 through the opening 56, in the wallof the member 48, and into the trough 55, whereby such material will bereturned to the intermediate portion of the cylinder 8, and subjected toa further separation, as will be understood by reference to Figure. '7.

The coarsest material such as oats, barley, sticks and pieces of straw,which might be intermixed with the mass of material fed to the machine,will not be carried upwardly by the indentations in the cylinder 8, butwill be discharged from the front end of the cylinder through a spout 59provided at the lower end of the plate 15, as shown in Figures 1 and 4.The upper portion of the spout 59 is provided with inclined walls 61 and62, extending upwardly as shown in Figure 2, and the wall 62 projectingabove the opposite wall 61, as indicated at B, so as to catch anymaterial which may be carried upwardly by the rotary motion of thecylinder 8, whereby such material will be delivered into the spout 59from whence it will flow by gravity into a suitable receiving means, notshown.

The means provided for feeding the material to beseparated into thecylinder 8 is best shown in Figure 1, and comprises a hopper 63provided. at its bottom with a feed roll 64, and having a hinged gate 65for controlling the feeding of the material from the hopper 63 by therotation of the feed wheel 64. The gate 65 has an operating rod 66extending upwardly above the hopper 63, and is provided with a suitablewing nut 67 whereby it may be secured in adjusted positions. 'The feedwheel 64 delivers the material into a second hopper 68 whichcommunicates with the housing 27, as shown. The hopper 68 isopen at therear end of ,the machine, as indicated at A in Figure 1, andcommunicates with a suction chamber 69 having a suction trunk 71connecting it with a settlings chamber '72, provided with a suitable fan73 for circulating air therethrough.

A partition 7 1 isprovlded in the settlings chamber '72 between thesuction trunk 71 and the intake to the fan 73, so that the finedust-laden air drawn into the chamber 72 by the action of the fan73,must pass downwardly around the lowere'dge of the partition 74.,thereby'causmg the heavier foreign matter drawn into the settlingschamber to be precipitatedinto the bottom of said chamber, while onlydust and such fine foreign particles as are held in suspension in theair are discharged from the outlet 75 of the fan. A suitable gate ordoor 76 is provided at the bottom of the settlings chamber whereby thecontents thereof may be removed when necessary. The gate or door 76 mayalso be hinged in such a manner that when a predetermined quantity offoreign matter is delivered into the settlings chamber, the door will beautomatically opened by the pressure of the material against the innerside thereof, whereupon the material will discharge from said chamber.

into the settlings chamber by the fan '73 will enter the second hopper68 through the opening A, and will pass around the lower portion of thefeed wheel 64 and upwardly into the suction chamber 69, from whence itis drawn into the settlings chamber through the trunk 71. The air thusdrawn into the settlings chamber by the fan '75, will remove ,from theunseparated material the very finest and lightest particles, such aspigeon seed, and other small seeds, and also dust and other foreignmaterials. The heaviest of these fine particles will be precipitatedinto the bottom of the settlings chamber, while the dust will bedischarged from the fan outlet '75 into a suitable receiving means, notshown.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that all the materialdelivered into the lower hopper 68 by the feed wheel 64 will be fed intothe lower portion of the cylinder 8 at the rear of the machine and, dueto the rotary movement of the cylinder, the material will travel towardsthe opposite end thereof, and the Durum wheat, rye, barley, and othermaterialof certain length and weight, will lodge in the indentations inthe wall of the cylinder and will be carried upwardly and dischargedinto the trough-like member 48 at the forward end of the upper cylinder.It is also to be understood that the indentations in the wall of thecylinder will not only discriminate according to the length and size ofthe material being fed intov it, but owing to the speed at which thecylinder revolves, a certain amount of centrifugal force is applied tothe material or grain, causing the heaviest particles to find lodging inthe indentations first. This will prevent the particles of lighterweight to find lodging in the indentations thus occupied, even thoughthe length of such lighter material would permit them to lodge in theindentations. The adjust-ability of the receiving edges of thetroughlike members as to elevation within the cylinders, also providesmeans whereby the degree of separation may be varied as desired.

All of the material received in the trough-like member 36 at the rearend of the cylinder 8,

such as the small wheat, weed seeds, and other materials deliveredthereinto by the indentations- 10 in the cylinder, will be deliveredinto the lower cylinder '9 through an opening '77 provided in the lowerportion of the member 33 and into a chute '78 communicating with ahopper '79,connected with a feed opening 81 provided in an extension 82of a head 83 suitably secured to the end of the cylinder 9, as bestshown in Figure 1. The chute "78 may be formed from cast metal, and hasan upstanding portion 80 to retain the ma terial therein. It may besecured to the main frame as shown in Figure 3. An inspection door maybe provided in the'chute 73 whereby an attendant may observe the flow ofgrain therethrcugh. Only the largest of the materials, such as the Durumwheat and other large wheat, and the coarse, rough material such asoats, barley, sticks, etc., will be removed from the material in theupper cylinder 8. It is to be particularly understood that the relativepositions of the multiple trough-like members within the same cylinder,controls the amount of liftings and tailings in each section or" thecylinder, said members being positioned so as to receive only certainmaterials of the desired length and weight, and irrespective of thesizes of the indentations opposite each troughdike member.

The extension 82 of the'head 83 has a hub 84 In the operation of theinachinathe air drawn secured thereto by suitable arms 85. A stub shaft86, similar to the shaft 24 provided in the upper hopper 27, has one endsecured in the hub 84 and has its opposite end rotatably mounted in abearing 8'7 provided in the hopper 79. The hopper '19 and bearing 87 aresupported upon the cross'member 4 of the frame, as best shown in Figures1 and 3. A suitable agitator 88 is secured to the stub shaft 86 andconstantly agitates the material received in the hopper 79 to prevent itfrom clogging therein, when the machine is in operation. This agitatoris similar to the agitator 50 provided in the housing 27 of the cylinder8.

The inner portion of the hopper 79 is preferably cylindrical inconfiguration and is adapted to fit into the feed opening 81 of theextension 82 in such a manner as to provide a leak-proof joint betweenthese members, it being understood that the extension 82 rotatessynchronously with the cylinder 9.

The inner surface of the rear portion of the cylinder 9 is provided withsuitable indentations 30, and the forward portion of this cylinder isprovided with suitable indentations 40 which are smaller than theindentations 30. A pair of trough-like members 89 and 91 are mountedwithin he cylinder 9, and the bottoms of these members are inclinedinthe same direction as shown in Figure l. The trough 89 has its forwardportion secured to a plate member 92 fastened to a shaft 93 extendingthrough the cylinder and having its rear end portion supported in thehub es of the head 83. The shaft 93 also extends through an apertureprovided in the bottom of the trough 85% whereby the trough is firmlysupported upon the shaft within the cylinder.

An inwardly extending flange 94 is provided within the cylinder .9between the trough-like members 89 and 91, and provides a stop for the rmaterials remaining in the bottom of the rear portion of the cylinder.In other words, the material such, for example, as the small Durum andlarge spring wheat which is not carried up by the indentations "39 anddelivered into the troughlike member .89, will travel lengthwise throughthe rear section of the cylinder and be discharged therefrom through aplurality of openings 95 providedin the wall of the cylinder 9 adjacentto the flange 94. The. materialdischarged through 1 these openingswillbe received in a suitable member or hopper 96, preferablyconstructed of metal and secured to the longitudinally extending siderails 7*? of the main frame, as shown in Figure 5. This hopper isdisposed directly beneath the openings 95 in the cylinder 9 andmaycomniunicate with a suitable receiving means not shown. All of the finermaterials delivered into the trough-like member 89 by the indentations30 in the cylinder will-be discharged into the forward section of thecylinder at the opposite side of the dividing flange 94, so that thismaterial will be subjected to the action of the relativelysmallerindentations 40 at that end of the cylinder.

All of the finest particlesjof the material delivered into the forwardend portion of the cylinder 9 will be carried upwardly by theindentations 40 and delivered into the trough-like member 91, fromwhence it will be dncharged from the machine through a spout 9'7communicating with the discharge end of the trough 91. The spout 9'7 isprovided on a plate 98 having a hub whereby it may be fixedly secured toa bushing 99. To the opposite end of the bushing 99 an arm 101 issecured, as shown at the right hand :nostymz -33 of the main frame bysuitableuboltsand has sired to discharge the weed seeds arid brokenwheat as a single mixture, it maybe *readily accomplished by elevatingthe receiving edge of the trough 91 so that substantially all of theweed seeds will drop from the indentations *40 back into the cylinder,whereby'they will be discharged from the cylinder, together with thebroken wheat, through the spout 117; Conversely;

should it be desired to mix only a portion of the lorokenwheat with theweed seeds, the receiving edge of the trough-like member 91 may berelatively lowered, whereby the smallest particles of the broken wheatwill be lifted over the'edge of the member 91 and be discharged from themachine togetherwith the weed seeds, through the spout 42.

The forward end of theshaft 93-is rotatably supported in the sleeve 99,and has an arm-.104 secured thereto which carriesa screw adapted tolockingly engage a link. 106 which is pivotally mounted upon the endplate 102; The arm 104 has a slot 107 therein adapted-to receive thelink 106. In like manner the adjusting arm l01 has a slot 108 adapted toreceive a link, 109 to which the arm 101 may be secured by asuitablescrew 111 for the purpose of' locking the arm inadjusted position. Asuitable collar 112 is secured to the shaft 93 and cooperates-with thearm 101-to prevent longitudinal movement of the shaft 93. The front endof the cylinder 9 is provided with an annular member 113 provided withan outwardly extending portion 114. adapted to engage a pair ofanti-friction rollers 115 and 116, secured,

to the plate 102, and upon which the weight of the forward end. of thecylinder is supported.

From the foregoing, it-will be noted that-the trough-like member 89 ismounted upon and secured to the shaft 93, to which the adjusting arm 104is secured, so that by relatively moving the arm 104 with respect to thelink106, itwill rotatably adjust the member 89 so as to cause thereceiving edge thereof to be raisedwor lowered, whereby the desiredseparation of the material may be obtained. The trough-like member 91inthe front end of the cylinder 9 is rotatably sup: ported upon theshaft1'93 and is secured to the plate 98 of the spout 97. Because'of-theplate 98 being secured to thesleeve 99, when the arm 101, which also issecured to the sleeve .99; is relatively moved, the trough-likemember9-1 will be rotatably adjusted within the cylinder and inde-. pendentlyof the trough 89, whereby. the, member 91 may be adjusted so as to pickup only the very finest particles, all of the other particles not beingreceived in this trough, such for example the small spring wheat beingdischarged through the annular member 113 of the cylinder andinto aspout 117, provided upon the end "plate 102, as

clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2. The-construe tionof'the spout 1'17issimilar tothat of the spout 59. l I The means provided for operating thecylinders 8 and 9 is best shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, and comprises a;drive shaft 118, mounted in suitablebearings provided in the upperportion of the mainframe, and having a suitable pulley 119 whereby itmay be connected to a suitable source of .power; A pinion-12l is securedto one end of the drive shaft 118 and meshes with a bevel gear 122',secure'dto one, end of a shaft 123, to the opposite end of which asprocket 124 is secured.

This sprocket is adapted to drive a chain 125 operatively engaged withsprockets 126 and 127 suitably secured to the members 17 and 82 of thecylinders 8 and 9, respectively, as shown in Figures 1 and '3; The' feedroll 64 is operatively connected with the shaft 123 by means of a pairof bevel-gears 128tand'129," so that when the cylinders are operating,thefeed roll. will be rotated. The'fanris [shown provided with a pulley131 adapted to be'driven by a belt 132 from a pulley -133 secured to theopposite; end of the drive shaft 118. ,m-

Another; important feature of this invention resides in*the provision'of means for vertically adjusting one end of the machine so as toslightly tilt the cylinders withrespect to the horizontal. Such a meansis best shown in Figures 1, 4, and 5, and may consist of a pair ofvertically movable feet or legs 134 and 135, slidably mountedinsuitableguides provided'in the lower cross rail 6 of the main frame.Thefoot 134 is here shown having its upper end pivotally connected toone end of alever 136 pivoted at 137 to a cross member 138, secured tothe upright legs 33 of the main frame. The foot has its upper endpivotally connectedto an arm 139 pivoted at 141 to the cross member 138.The opposite end of the arm 139 is shown carrying a pin 142 received inaslot "143 provided in the lever 136. The lever 136is provided with ahand grip 144 and has a projection or rib 145 thereon adapted toselectively engage the teeth of a suitable quadrant 146, secured tooneof the upright legs of the main frame. The pivotal connection of thelever 136 with thecross member 138 is such that the swinging endof thelever is frictionally held in engagement with thequadrant 146, wherebythe lever will remain in its adjusted positions.

When the lever 136 is swung upwardly, when viewed as shown in Figure 5,the feet 134 and 135 will be moveddownwardly thereby causing the machineframe to be elevated, with the result that-the forward ends of thecylinders will be correspondingly elevated and thereby retard themovement of the material throughthe machine. Conversely, when the leveris moved downwardly from the position shown in Figure 4, the machineframe will be lowered from the position shown in Figure 4,therebyloweringthe front ends of-the cylinders with the result that thematerial will travel faster through the machine. Thus by means of thelever 136, the how of the material through the cylinder may becontrolled at will.

In the operation of this novel grain separator, the material to beseparated and cleanedis delivered into the hopper 63 at the upper rearportion of the machine. The gate 65 is then opened by manipulation of;the rod 66 to control the feeding of the material into the receiving endof the upper cylinders. As the material is discharged fromthe hopper 63into the lower hopper 68, the new: of air through this hopper beneaththe feed. roll 64 will remove from the material all of the finestparticles, such as dust, pigeonseed and other such materials. .Theselighter materials will be drawn into the settlings chamber. '12, wherethe heaviest of these lighter particles will be precipitated intothebottom ofthe chamber, while the dust and such particles as are heldin suspension in the air current, will be drawn upwardly into the fan 73and discharged ,therefrom throughthe outlet 75 thereof.

The remaining materialstwill be. delivered into the receiving end oftheupper cylinder 8,; as shown in Figure 12, and will be subjectedto..the action of the indentations 10 in the rearv section of thiscylinder and will be constantly agitated, and the smaller particles,such as medium sized wheat, small Durum and small spring wheat, will be.re.- moved from themass by the indentations 10and delivered into thetrough-like member 36. of; the cylinder 8. The larger materials, such as'Durum and other large wheat kernels, and. also the. coarse, roughmaterialsuch' as. oats; barley, sticks; straw, and the like, which isnot carried .upybythe indentations 10, will pass onwardly toward the.opposite end of the cylinder 8, where theywill: come into contactwiththe relatively 1larger,:..indentations 20, provided atthat end of thecylinder. All of the material delivered into the itrough-rlike member 36will'be discharged into-thechute 78 from whence it is delivered intothe, hopper, '79 and fed into the receiving end of. the lowerqcylinder9. The degree of vseparationbetween the large wheat and thesmaller-particles, is.;controlled by relatively adjusting the receivingedge of the trough-like member36. so as to causexonly certain materialsto be delivered into this trough.

The material delivered into the forward section of the cylinder 8will'be. subjected ,tothe action of the relatively. large. indentations20 which are of such size as to: pickup thelarge Durum wheat, rye, and"barley and carrythern upwardly and discharge them into the trough-likemember 48, as shown in Figure; 11. ,;The coarse,

rough material, such .as the oats,,.lng,; poorly threshed barley, smallsticks and, straw will be crowded out of theindentations 20 by therelatively heavier wheat kernels, and will therefore drop out of theindentations, and fallback into the cylinder, or into the relativelysmaller -.auxiliary trough 54 provided upon the member .48, whereby theywill be returned to the intermediate portion of the cylinder for furtherseparation.

' The receiving edge of the member 48 is positioned at such an elevationas to cause only the. large, clean wheat to be thrown thereon into themember 48, from whence it is dischargedthroughthe chute 42 into asuitable receiving means. The delivery of the large wheat kernels intothe member 48 is controlled largely bytherelative position ofthereceiving edge of this member, which will be understood by reference toFigures 9, 10, and '11. The cylinder 8 is also operated at a speedwhereby the centrifugal. force acting: on

the, cats and other rough material by the indentations' 20'before any ofthe wheat reaches a position in the cylinder beneath the pivoted members57. When this. occurs some of the roughmavterial such as oats, andbarley, may lodge in the indentations. 20. and be carried upwardlythereby and thrown over the receiving edge of the member 48, in whichcase it would be discharged from the spout 42 with the clean largewheat. To prevent such an occurrence the receiving edge of the member 48is preferably inclined as shown in Figure lso that said edge is higherat the forward end of the cylinder where the oat kernels are more apt tobe carried up by the indentations. Bythus making this edge higher at theforward end of the cylinder, thedanger of oats and barley being carriedover the edge is minimized.

' To further guard against this occurrence, however,'the hinged members57 are provided at the forward end of the trough-like member 48, whichmembers may be positioned as shown in Figure 9, wherebyrall the coarsematerial discharged into the member .48xat the end of the cylinder willbe received by the members and will be conveyed across the member 48 anddischarged into the auxiliary trough 55, .whereby it will be returned tothe intermediate portion of the cylinder for. further separation. Itwill thus be seen that by the; provision of the members 57 and theindependent adjustment of the trough-like members 36 and 48, an accurateand complete separation of. the large wheat may be made from therelatively smaller particles in the mass, and, in like manner, all ofthe coarse, rough materials, such as oats, barley, sticks, straws andthe like, is also removed therefrom in the first cylinder.

The remaining unseparated smaller materials, as hereinbefore stated, aredelivered into the receiving end of the lower cylinder 9, and as theypass through the rear portion thereof all of the medium sized wheat,small Durum and large spring wheat is removed from the mass anddischarged through the openings 95 in the intermediate'section of thecylinder, into the discharge spout or hopper 96. The relatively finerparticles,-such"as the small spring wheat and weed seeds are received inthe trough-like member 89, from whence they are delivered into theforward section of the cylinder 9. As they pass through this section allof the weed seeds and other fine particles will be removed from theremaining par- 1 ticles by the action of the relatively smallerindentations 40 and will be delivered into the member 91 to bedischarged from the spout 97, provided-at the forward end of themachine. The

remaining particles, which will consist mostly I of small spring wheatand broken kernels of wheat, will be discharged through the spout 117 ofthe cylinder 9.

The amount of material delivered into the cylinder 9 from the uppercylinder 8 is controlled by adjustment of the trough-like member 36 atthe rear end of the upper cylinder.

The trough-like members 89 and 91 are adapted for independent rotaryadjustment by manipulation of the adjusting levers 104 and 101, re-

spectively, whereby an accurate separation of these particles may beobtained. Also by vertically adjusting the front end o the machine tochange the positions of the cylinder with respect to the horizontal, thematerial feeding through the cylinder may be controlled. as desired, andthis adjustment in conjunction with the independent adjustments of thetrough-like members 36, 48, 89 and 91, provides means whereby a verythorough and complete separation of all particles contained in the massmay be obtained.

the dust and very finest particles are discharged from the outlet 75 oftherein; (2) the relatively heavier particles of the material removed bythe air current passing through the suctionchamber 69 is delivered intothe bottom ofthe settlings chamber 72; (3) the clean Durum and otherlarge wheat is discharged from the spout 42; (4) the oats, barley,sticks, straws and other rough material is discharged from the spout 59;(5) the small Durum, medium sized wheat, and large spring wheat isdischarged from the hopper or spout 96; (6) the small spring wheat andsimilar sized particles are discharged from the spout 117; and ('7) theweed seeds and other fine particles are discharged from the spout 97,.By relatively adjusting the trough-like members 36 and 418 within thecylinder 8, the machine may be so adjusted as to cause it to not onlymake a very thorough and complete separation of the 'Durum wheat, barleyand rye,from the cats andremaining materials, but also aseparation ofspring and other small wheat may be made from the best grades of Durum;The members 89 and 91 in the from.

lower cylinder 9 may be so adjusted as to cause more or less of thematerial whichordinarily would discharge from the opening 95 inthecylinder 9 to be carried into the other section of this cylinder,whereby they would be discharged from the spout 117 and mixed with thesmall spring wheat discharging from this spout. Also by relativelyadjusting theposition of the member 91 it may be so set as to cause itto pick up only the very finest of the weed seeds, whereby therelatively larger weed seeds will be discharged from the machine throughthespout 117, together with theother materials discharging there- Figure11 is an enlarged detail sectional view illustrating a wall section ofthe forward portion of the cylinder 8, showing how the large wheatkernels are carried upwardly by the indentations 20 and delivered intothe member 48 over the upper edge thereof, while the oats and otherlarge tailings are discharged by gravity from the indentations of thecylinder wallbefore they reach the upper edge of the member 48. It

will be notedby referring to thisfigure that centrifugal force,controlledby the peripheral speed of the cylinder, operates againstgravity to retain the different materials in the pockets until theyreach certain heights. Thus by operating the cylinders at the properspeed and positioning the receiving edge of the trough-like member 48 atthe proper elevation, only the large heavy wheat kernels willbedelivered into the member 48.

In the drawings, we have shown the trough-like member 48 as being theonly member having its receiving edge arranged at an incline withrespect to the horizontal, but it is to be understood that one or moreof the other members 36,

' 89 and 91 mayalso have their receiving edges similarly disposed, ifdesired, without departing from the scope of the invention. The machineas disclosed in the drawings, particularly Figure l, embodies twocylinders and is adapted for making several separations as hereinbeforestated, and thus provides a machine of the class described which iscapable of handling and separating from one another, various kinds ofgrains and small seeds and delivering them to separate receiving means.It is also capable of grading such grains as, forexample, wheat, becauseby proper adjustment of the trough-like members 3648, 89 and 91, theclean wheat may be classified or graded into three separate grades,namely, the small wheat, the medium sized wheat, andthe large wheat. Byadjustably mounting the trough-like members as disclosed, they may berelatively adjusted independently of each other whereby the machine isrendered very flexibie, so that almost any desired degree of separationand classification may be obtained.

For certain classes of work, when fewer separations are required as, forexample, separating from one another, weed seeds, wheat and oats, wehave found that the lower cylinder 9 may be dispensed with, in whichcase the machine is constructed with the upper cylinder 8 only. In sucha machine, it may also be possible to secure the trough-like members 36and 48 in fixed relation, when once their proper positions have beenlocated within the cylinder, whereby a very sim ple and inexpensivemachine may be provided.

.We claim as our invention:

l. A separator comprising a cylinder mounted for rotary movement andhaving its Wall surfaces provided with groups of difierent sizedindentations, means for feeding material to said cylinder, a pluralityof inclined trough-like members mounted within said cylinder and eachaligned with a group, of said indentations, and each member beingadapted to receive certain materials carried upwardly by theindentations alined therewith, means for independently raising orlowering the receiving edges of said meinbers whereby each may bepositioned to cause only certain materials to be received therein, andmeans mounted within one of said members adapted to be positioned toreceive elective portions of the material delivered thereto and convcyit over said member into a return trough positioned at the opposite sidethereof, whereby said elective portions of the material will be returnedto the cylinder for further separation.

2. A separator comprising a rotatable cylinder having groups ofdifferent sized indentations in the walls thereof, trough-like memberswithin said cylinder having their bottoms inclined in oppositedirections from an intermediate point in the cylinder and each alinedwith a group of said indentations, each of said members having areceiving edge positioned adjacent to the wall of the cylinder and overwhich certain of the materials are lifted by the indentations in thecylinder walls and delivered into said members, means for independentlyraising or lowering the receiving edges of said trough-like memberswhereby they may be positioned to cause only certain materials to bereceived therein, means pivotally mounted within one of said troughlilzemembers and having its receiving edge adapted to be positioned adjacentthe receiving edge of said member to receive elective portions of thematerial delivered thereto and convey it over said member to be returnedto the cylinder for further separation, and means by which said pivotedmeans may be moved into inoperative position.

3. A separator comprising a rotatable cylinder having suitableindentations in the walls thereof, trough-like members within saidcylinder having their bottoms inclined in opposite directions from anintermediate point in the cylinder, each of said members having areceiving edge positioned adjacent to the wall of the cylinder and overwhichv certain of the materials are lifted bythe indentations inthecylinder and delivered into said members, means for independentlyraising or lowering the receiving edges of said trough-like members,whereby they may be positioned to cause only certain materials to belifted thereover, the receiving edge of one of said trough-like membersbeing inclined, Whereby it is higher at one end than at the other, tothereby prevent certain of the coarser materials from being liftedthereover into said member, an auxiliary return trough secured to theside of said member opposite from said inclined edge, and means forconveying certain of the material delivered to said member into saidauxiliary trough, whereby it is returned to the cylinder for furtherseparation.

i. A separator comprising a plurality of rtatable cylinders, arrangedone over another, and having their walls provided with groups ofdifferent sized indentations, a plurality of trough-like membersarranged within said cylinders and each having an edge positionedadjacent to 'a cylinder wall and over which certain materials are liftedby the indentations in the. cylinder walls, means for independentlyadjusting said trough-like members to raise or lower the receiving edgesthereof whereby a complete separation of the materials may be obtained,and means for feeding the mass of material into one end of one of saidcylinders, comprising a hopper having its discharge connected to theintake of the cylinder, and having means for drawing a current of airthrough the material feeding from the hopper to the cylinder wherebydust and foreign lighter particles are removed from the mass of materialbefore the latter is delivered intothe receiving cylinder. i

5. A separator comprising an upper cylinder having suitable indentationsin the inner wall surface thereof, trough-like members arranged in saidcylinder and inclined in opposite directions, a cylinder disposedbeneath said upper cylinder, one of said trough-like members beingadapted to receive certain materials carried upwardly by theindentations at one end of the upper cylinder and deliver them into thelower cylinder for further separation, and the other of said trough-likemembers being adapted to receive certain of said materials and dischargethem from one end of the upper cylinder as a finished product, theremaining materials not delivered into said second mentioned memberbeing discharged from the end of the cylinder, means for independentlyadjusting the troughlilze members in said cylinders, whereby thereceiving edges thereof may be positioned to cause only certainmaterials to be lifted thereover, and means for feeding the material tobe separated into said upper cylinder, comprising a feed regulatingmeans and a suction means for removing dust and other foreign lightermaterial from the mass before it is delivered into the cylinder.

6. A separator comprising an upper cylinder having suitable indentationsin the inner wall surface thereof, trough-like members arranged saidcylinder and inclined in opposite directions, a cylinder disposedbeneath said upper cylinder, one of said trough-like members beingadapted to receive certain materials carried upwardly by theindentations at one end of the them from one end of the upper cylinderas a finished product, said second mentioned troughlike member havingits receiving edge inclined upwardly in the direction of travel of thematerial to prevent elective portions of thelarger material from liftingover a portion of said edge, the remaining materials not delivered intosaid second mentioned member being discharged from the end of thecylinder as tailings, means for independently adjusting the trough-likemembers in said cylinders, whereby the receiving edges thereof may bepositioned to cause only certain materials to be lifted thereover, andmeans for feeding the material to be separated into said upper cylinder,comprising a suction device for removing dust and other foreign lightermaterial fromthe mass before it is delivered into the cylinder.

'7, A separator comprising a rotatable cylinder having suitableindentations in its walls adapted to convey different materials, aplurality of trough-likemembers adjustably mounted within the cylinderand adapted to receive selective materials from said indentations andconvey them to separate receiving means, means for feeding the materialto be separated into one end of the cylinder, auxiliary return troughssecured to the opposite sides of one of said trough-like members, one ofsaid auxiliary troughs being positioned to receive selective materialfrom certain of the indentations in the walls of the cylinder and returnsaid'rnaterial for further separation, conveying means mounted withinthe troughlike member to which said return troughs are secured adaptedto receive and convey certain materials delivered over the receivingedge of said trough-like member, into the return trough at the oppositeside thereof, and means whereby said conveying means may be moved to aninoperative position.

8. A separator comprising a rotatable cylinder having suitableindentations in its walls adapted to convey different materials, aplurality of trough-like members adjustably mounted within the cylinderand adapted to receive selective materialsfrom said indentations andconvey them to separate receiving means, means for feeding the materialto be separated into one end of the cylinder, auxiliary return troughssecured to the opposite sides of one of said trough-like members, one ofsaid auxiliary troughs being positioned to receive selective materialfrom certain of the indentations in the walls of the cylinder and returnsaid material for further separation, and a plurality of materialconveying elements mounted within the trough-like member to which saidreturn troughs are secured. adapted to receive and convey certainmaterials delivered over the receiving edge of said trough-like member,into the return trough at the opposite side thereof, said conveyingelements being independently movable to control the diverting of saidcertain materials over said trough-like member.

9. A separator comprising a rotatable cylinder having suitableindentations in its walls adapted to convey different materials, aplurality of inclined troughs within the cylinder adapted to receiveselective materials from said indentations and convey them from thecylinder, and means for feeding the material to be separated to saidcylinder comprising a hopper having its discharge connected with theintake of the cylinder, means in the bottom of the hopper for regulatingthe 1,985,772 flow of material therefrom. a settlings chamber,

a trunk connecting saidchamber with the discharge of the hopper, and asuction device connected with said chamber for drawing air through saidtrunk into the chamber, whereby dust and other foreign lighter mattercontained in the material being fed to the cylinder is removed therefrombefore it reaches the cylinder.

10. A separator comprising a rotatable cylinder having suitableindentations in the walls thereof adapted to convey different materials,a plurality of inclined troughs within the cylinder adapted to receiveselective materials from said indentations and convey them from thecylinder, the material remaining in the cylinder being dischargeddirectly therefrom, and means for feeding the material to be separatedto said cylinder comprising a hopper having its discharge connected withthe intake of the cylinder, means in the bottom of the hopper forregulating the flow of material therefrom, said hopper having atransverse air passage beneath its discharge through which the materialdischarging therefrom passes, a settlings chamber, means establishingcommunication between said chamber and the air passage beneaththe'hopper, and a suction device connected with said chamber whereby airis drawn through said transverse air passage and into the settlingschamber to thereby remove dust and other foreign lighter matter from thematerial being fed to the cylinder.

11. A separator comprising a rotatable cylinder having suitableindentations in the walls thereof adapted to convey different materials,a plurality of inclined troughs; within the cylinder adapted toreceiveselective materials from said indentations and convey them fromthe cylinder, a hopper arranged at one end of the cylinder and havingmeans at its discharge for controlling the delivery of material to thecylinder, a suction chammoved therefrom before the material is deliveredinto the cylinder.

12. A separator comprising a rotatablecylinder having suitableindentations inthe walls thereof adapted'to convey different materials,a plurality of inclined troughs within the cylinder adapted to receiveselective materials from said indentations and convey them from thecylinder, a hope its intake disposed adjacent to the discharge of thehopper, a settlings chamber connected to said suction chamber, a suctiondevice connected to said settlings chamber, whereby a current of air isdrawn through the suction chamber and into the settlings chamber,whereby dust and other lighter foreign matter contained in the materialis removed therefrom and delivered into the settlings chamber, beforethe material is fed into the cylinder, and means whereby the heavierparticles delivered into the settlings chamber are retained thereinwhile the dust is removed therefrom by said suction device.

, 13. A separator comprising a rotatable cylinder having means thereinadapted to receive and convey different selective materials, a pluralityof inclined troughs within the cylinder adapted to receive selectivematerials from the means in said cylinder and convey them to separatereceiving means, an auxiliary hopper connected to one end of thecylinder, a main hopper over said auxiliary hopper and having means atits discharge for reg ulating the flow of material therefrom into theauxiliary hopper, a suction chamber above the auxiliary hopper andconnected thereto, said auxiliary hopper having an air intake, and asuction device connected to said suction chamber, whereby air is drawnthrough said auxiliary hopper and through the flow of material passingtherethrough from the main hopper, whereby dust and other foreignlighter matter is removed from the material before it is delivered intothe cylinder.

MARCUS A. ERICKSON. J OHANNES GROSETH.

